Sudoku board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

An improved Sudoku board game apparatus includes a game board having a grid of squares and a plurality of predetermined positions within each square for tracking candidate numbers. Each of the predetermined positions comprises a hole extending into the game board. Pegs are placed into the predetermined positions to signify candidate numbers. The above Sudoku board game apparatus provides an improved method of tracking candidate numbers by eliminating the need for a writing instrument or numbered game pieces. It allows candidate numbers, and more specifically patterns of candidate numbers, to be easily recognized, which is an important strategy in solving Sudoku puzzles.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to Sudoku board games, and morespecifically to a Sudoku board game apparatus comprising a game boardhaving a grid of squares and a plurality of predetermined positionswithin each square for tracking candidate numbers.

The use of Sudoku puzzles is known in the prior art. Sudoku (sometimesspelled Su Doku) are logic puzzles that use numbers and a nine-by-ninegrid of squares. The squares are grouped into nine boxes, eachcontaining a three-by-three grid of squares. Some of the squares containa number. The goal is to fill in the empty squares so the numbers 1through 9 appear just once in every row, column, and box.

To solve Sudoku puzzles, it is essential to keep an accurate list ofpossible numbers (known as candidates) for each blank square. There aretwo popular notations for keeping track of candidate numbers: subscriptsand dots. In subscript notation, the candidate numbers are written insubscript in the squares. The drawback to this is that the originalpuzzles printed in newspapers are often too small to accommodate morethan a few digits. In dot notation, a pattern of dots is written torepresent the candidate numbers, with a dot in the top left cornerrepresenting a 1 and a dot in the bottom right corner representing a 9.Dexterity is required in placing the dots, since misplaced dots orinadvertent marks inevitably lead to confusion and may not be easy toerase without adding to the confusion.

The puzzle's origin dates back to the 18th century, where Swissmathematician Leonhard Euler invented a puzzle called Latin Squares. Themodern day Sudoku puzzle originated in 1979 when a grid titled “NumberPlace” was published in an American puzzle magazine. By the early 1980s,the puzzle was renamed Sudoku (which means “single number”) and appearedin several Japanese magazines. In 2004, the first Sudoku puzzle waspublished in a London newspaper. It quickly gained popularity, and isnow considered to be an international craze.

Sudoku puzzles were originally available only in printed form—appearingin newspapers, magazines, and books. Recently, Sudoku board games havebegun to appear on the market, and consist of familiar, expected andobvious structural configurations.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives andrequirements, the aforementioned Sudoku board games do not provide anefficient means of tracking candidate numbers. More specifically, theyrequire a plurality of game pieces, each bearing a number from 1 through9, to signify candidate numbers; or they require the solver to writecandidate numbers on the game board using a dry erase marker; or theyprovide no means of tracking candidate numbers (other than using a paperand pencil). Each of these tracking methods has its disadvantages.

Sudoku board games that require a plurality of numbered game pieces tosignify candidate numbers do not provide adequate space within thesquares for more than four candidate numbers. It can be difficult to addor remove the small game pieces from the board, and it can also bedifficult to find a particular number in a pile of game pieces. Sudokuboard games that require the solver to write candidate numbers on thegame board have the same drawbacks as the printed versions innewspapers. It can be difficult to erase candidate numbers withouterasing adjacent numbers, and the process of erasing creates a finedust.

The inventive device includes a game board having a grid of squares anda plurality of predetermined positions within each square for trackingcandidate numbers. Each of the predetermined positions comprises a holeextending into the game board. Pegs are placed into the predeterminedpositions to signify candidate numbers from 1 through 9. A peg in thetop left corner of each square represents a 1, and a peg in the bottomright corner of each square represents a 9. Pegs can easily be added orremoved from the game board during the solving process. The inventivedevice simplifies the process of tracking candidate numbers byeliminating the need for a writing instrument or numbered game pieces.It eliminates the possibility of confusion caused by misplaced dots orinadvertent marks. The inventive device allows candidate numbers, andmore specifically patterns of candidate numbers, to be easilyrecognized, which is an important strategy in solving Sudoku puzzles.

In these respects, the inventive device substantially departs from theconventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doingprovides an improved method of tracking candidate numbers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofSudoku board games now present in the prior art, the present inventionprovides an improved method of tracking candidate numbers which is notanticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of theprior art Sudoku board games, either alone or in any combinationthereof.

To attain this, the present invention comprises a game board having agrid of squares and a plurality of predetermined positions within eachsquare defining possible candidate numbers. Each of the predeterminedpositions comprises a hole extending into the game board. Pegs areplaced into the predetermined positions to signify candidate numbersfrom 1 through 9. The position of the peg within each square determinesthe numerical value of the candidate number.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved Sudoku board game apparatus which is not anticipated, renderedobvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art Sudoku boardgames, either alone or in any combination thereof

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedSudoku board game which may be easily and efficiently manufactured andmarketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedSudoku board game which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide animproved Sudoku board game which is susceptible of a low cost ofmanufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and whichaccordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such game economically available to the buyingpublic.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedSudoku board game which provides in the apparatuses and methods of theprior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneouslyovercoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedSudoku board game which includes a game board having a grid of squaresand a plurality of predetermined positions within each square definingpossible candidate numbers. Each of the predetermined positionscomprises a hole extending into the game board. Pegs are placed into thepredetermined positions to signify candidate numbers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedSudoku board game which simplifies the process of tracking candidatenumbers by eliminating the need for a writing instrument or numberedgame pieces, thereby allowing the solver to concentrate on the logicrequired to solve the puzzle.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide animproved Sudoku board game which allows candidate numbers, and morespecifically patterns of candidate numbers, to be easily recognized,which is an important strategy in solving Sudoku puzzles.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

Sheet 1/3—FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game board of the presentinvention, showing a nine-by-nine grid of squares, and nine peg holeswithin each square.

Sheet 2/3—FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of thepresent invention.

Sheet 3/3—FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pegs of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through3 thereof, an improved Sudoku board game apparatus embodying theprinciples and concepts of the present invention and generallydesignated by the reference numeral will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the present inventioncomprises a game board 10 and a plurality of pegs 20. The game board 10has eighty-one squares 12, which are arranged in a nine-by-nine grid 14.Each of the squares 12 contains nine peg holes 16, which are arranged ina three-by-three grid 18.

Pegs 20 are placed into the peg holes 16 to signify candidate numbersfrom 1 through 9. A peg 20 in the top left corner 22 of each square 12represents a 1, and a peg 20 in the bottom right corner 24 of eachsquare 12 represents a 9. Each of the pegs 20 has a top portion 26 and abottom portion 28. Each of the top portions 26 has a shape adapted tomake it easier to see and pick up. Each of the bottom portions 28 has ashape adapted to fitting in the peg holes 16.

The three-by-three grid 18 of peg holes 16 within each square 12 allowscandidate numbers to be quickly identified. Squares 12 containing thesame candidate numbers are easy to find because the pegs 20 signifyingthose numbers are in the same position of each square 12. Further, thethree-by-three grid 18 allows patterns of candidate numbers to be easilyfound because the pegs 20 create recognizable patterns within eachsquare 12.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that theoptimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A Sudoku board game apparatus comprising: a game board consisting ofa grid of squares, each of said squares having a plurality of peg holes,and; a plurality of pegs which are placed in said peg holes to signifycandidate numbers.
 2. The Sudoku board game apparatus of claim 1wherein: said game board includes a nine-by-nine grid of squares, eachof said squares having nine peg holes.
 3. A Sudoku game board consistingof a nine-by-nine grid of squares, each of said squares having nine pegholes.